MANGALORE: Union Shipping Ministry has taken upon itself the task of completing 42 projects amounting to INR 15,000 crore, said Mr. G K Vasan.

Reviewing the progress of three major ports, including New Mangalore Port, at Mormugao Port Trust Mr. Vasan said: "We have decided to have proper framework for the review of all projects."

The Joint Secretary (Ports) will review the projects once in a fortnight and Secretary Shipping will review it once in a month, Mr. Vasan said, adding that it will be done once in a quarter at his level.

 "Any issue which can impede the progress of the project can be sorted out at the appropriate time, thus ensuring that there is no delay in getting approvals and commencement of work. In this connection, the first review for three major ports has been held in Goa," added Mr. Vasan

MPT Chairman Mr. Mara Pandiyan, explaining capacity addition at the port, said it has various projects in the pipeline, totalling to about INR 1,800 crore. Some of these projects have already been awarded. Two major projects to be awarded this year are West of Breakwater project for iron ore exports at a cost of about INR 1,100 crore and mechanisation of berth 11 at a cost of INR 204 crore. Mechanisation of berth 11 includes providing covered storage facility for coal.

Mr. Paul Antony, Chairman of Cochin Port Trust, said the port has taken up various projects to increase the capacity from 20 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 51 MTPA by 2017. P Tamilvanan, Chairman of NMPT stated that cargo traffic as well as the number of ships have shown a positive growth.

NMPT has emerged as the largest Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-handling port in India with 46% share as also the largest coffee exporting port with 47% of the total exports from India.